History FireForgedFriends / Literature

* In Creator/JasperFforde's ''Literature/TheEyreAffair'', Joffy muses how at first the war was pleasant, and the camaderie found nowhere else was a big part of it.

** In Book 3, when Laurence and his crew are ordered to retrieve three valuable dragon eggs from Istanbul, they procure a guide, the half-Nepali Tenzing Tharkay, to get them from Macau to Turkey. Tharkay snarks at them constantly, keeps disappearing randomly, and generally engages in suspicious and somewhat dangerous behavior. When they arrive in Istanbul and get accosted by city guards on their way back from a late dinner, Tharkay and Laurence wind up fleeing the guards in a mad pursuit through a sewer. Once they're safe, Tharkay confesses to Laurence that he acts like a dick to make people open about their racism towards him as opposed to hiding their unfounded suspicion of him passive-aggressively. Laurence asks Tharkay if he's ever given the latter offense, and Tharkay concedes that Laurence has not. It's a RatedMForManly conversation that cements one of the strongest relationships in the series.

* ''Literature/ForgottenRealms: Elfsong'' by Elaine Cunningham had [[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob Danilo Thann]] and Elaith "[[MagnificentBastard The Serpent]]" Craulnober fighting together. While they did sort of [[GiveMeASword lend each other weapons]], the first time Danilo gave no-nonsense Elaith a sword loudly singing "[[BawdySong Elminster's Jest]]" and the second time he grabbed the elf's inactive Moonblade (the reason of most pain in his life). Elaith had a foul temper in better situations, and both times was close to killing him after the action. So they eventually became VitriolicBestBuds.

* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', the relationship between Harry and [[MagnificentBastard Marcone]] constantly teeters on the brink of this. Harry has to constantly remind himself that Marcone is the leader of the mob (though [[VetinariJobSecurity a nicer mob boss you couldn't hope to find]]) and his constant, unwavering assistance in battle is a matter of practicality, not any kind of [[FoeYay amicable feeling]].

* ''Literature/BazilBroketail'': When he and Relkin meet for the first time in book two, they start out as bitter rivals, mostly due to Swane's resentment over the fact that Relkin is already a famous and decorated soldier due to his and Bazil's actions in previous novel. This makes Swane assume that Relkin is a case of SmallNameBigEgo. During campaign in Ourdh Empire, they grow fond of each other and eventually, Swane openly admits that he misjudged Relkin, shaking his hand and officially ending their rivalry.

* How the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' became friends. Before the meeting with Elfangor, they weren't close - Marco and Jake were best friends, Cassie and Rachel were best friends, but Rachel and Jake weren't close cousins, Cassie and Jake only barely knew each other, and Rachel and Marco only knew of each other. Nobody knew or liked Tobias much, and, of course, they had never met Ax. But as Marco notes, after someone saves your life a couple times, you tend to cut them a little slack.

* From the Literature/{{Deryni}} works by Creator/KatherineKurtz:

* In ''Literature/DarknessVisible'' Lewis and Marsh don't become friends until after [[spoiler: the disaster at Wandsworth Prison]], the first time they save each other's lives (but not the last).
* This is how William Laurence makes both of his closest (human) friends in ''Literature/{{Temeraire}}''.
** John Granby is initially extremely hostile to Laurence out of friendship to [[JerkAss another officer]] who lost his chance at promotion because Temeraire wanted Laurence for a captain instead. But after being faced with Laurence's heroism and concern for his dragon in Temeraire's first combat action, Granby realizes he was being a JerkAss, apologises to Laurence, and becomes his friend.
** In Book 3, when Laurence and his crew are ordered to retrieve three valuable dragon eggs from Istanbul, they procure a guide, the half-Nepali Tenzing Tharkay, to get them from Macau to Turkey. Tharkay snarks at them constantly, keeps disappearing randomly, and generally engages in suspicious and somewhat dangerous behavior. When they arrive in Istanbul and get accosted by city guards on their way back from a late dinner, Tharkay and Laurence wind up fleeing the guards in a mad pursuit through a sewer. Once they're safe, Tharkay confesses to Laurence that he acts like a dick to make people open about their racism towards him as opposed to hiding their unfounded suspicion of him passive-aggressively. Laurence asks Tharkay if he's ever given the latter offense, and Tharkay concedes that Laurence has not. It's a RatedMForManly conversation that cements one of the strongest relationships in the series.

* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', the relationship between Harry and [[MagnificentBastard Marcone]] constantly teeters on the brink of this. Harry has to constantly remind himself that Marcone is the leader of the mob (though [[VetinariJobSecurity a nicer mob boss you couldn't hope to find]]) and his constant, unwavering assistance in battle is a matter of practicality, not any kind of [[FoeYay amicable feeling]].
** In ''Literature/DeadBeat'', this happens to Harry and Ramirez, as witness Ramirez's saying:
--->"Everyone else who lets me ride on their dinosaur [[FirstNameBasis calls me Carlos]]".
*** The same book has Butter going from a friendly work acquaintance and Harry's medical contact to, well, this. Harry saves Butters from zombies and necromancers, Butters saves Harry from a Fallan Angel and a former Denarian. It's all very cordial.
** One of the short stories is about how Harry met Murphy. He had been hired to track down a runaway child, who had wandered onto a bridge which happened to have a troll living under it. Murphy was nearby to help take it down. In ''Literature/ColdDays'', Harry says they've been friends since that moment.
** Harry and the spirit of Demonreach Island. Quoth Harry:
--->"I punched him in the nose. Now we're friends."
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':
** In ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', Legolas and Gimli get along rather better after spending time together in Lothlórien after the Battle of Moria. It hit the point that, years and years later when Legolas crossed over sea to Valinor, it's rumored in-universe that Gimli went with him.
** ''The Return of the King'', Éowyn and Merry after Pelennor Fields and [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu kicking the Witch King's butt]].
* A few adventures together helped Mara Jade get over her hatred of Luke Skywalker. Especially in ''Literature/TheLastCommand'' when she [[spoiler: killed his clone, freeing her from the Emperor's dying compulsion]].
* ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'': In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''A Princess Of Mars'', John Carter and Kantos Kan forge this during their trials at the GladiatorGames and rescuing Dejah Thoris. In ''The Gods of Mars'', John Carter observes:
-->''My old friend had won to the highest place in the navy of Helium, but he was still to me the same brave comrade who had shared with me the privations of a Warhoon dungeon, the terrible atrocities of the Great Games, and later the dangers of our search for Dejah Thoris within the hostile city of Zodanga.''

* In Creator/WenSpencer's ''Endless Blue'', Turk, knowing that nothing unites better than a common enemy, intends to keep the new Reds away from his veterans until they have a common enemy to unite them. (It goes awry, but that's his intention.)
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': A lot of the [[RagtagBunchofMisfits Night Watch]] end up becoming this. [[ActionGirl Brienne]] and [[AntiVillain Jaime]] might count, although it's not so much forged in battle as being captured and tortured by [[PsychoForHire the Bloody Mummers]] and it ends up becoming more of a RescueRomance later on.
* ''Literature/MaxieRosieAndEarlPartnersInGrime''. Three kids who don't initially know each other, and are not inclined to get along (especially since one of them is a huge tattletale), end up ditching school together. They argue and get annoyed at each other, but come out of it as friends in the end.
* ''Literature/GoodOmens''. Crowley, a demon, and Aziraphale, an angel, are quite obviously going to be enemies. However, after an indeterminate amount of time ''being'' Enemies, they came to realize that they had more in common with each other than their actual superiors. Thus, they came to an Agreement. They went from thwarting each other's actions to just going about their own business, with little acts of evil and little acts of good here and there, and occasionally holding down the fort for each other, as well as going out for lunch and drinks now and then over the past few millennia. Their part of the plot of the book is siding with each other again Heaven and Hell with the intent of averting the apocalypse. They also get the bonus points for [[spoiler:BackToBackBadasses and ItHasBeenAnHonor]].
* Suzanne Collins' ''Literature/TheHungerGames'':
** Katniss is terrified of this because she knows that in the end, she'll have to kill the other to stay alive. [[spoiler: She still teams up with Rue, however.]]
** To say nothing of the lead boy, who she purposely avoids for most of the games, hoping one of the other characters will do the dirty work for her.
** Many of the victors in ''Catching Fire''. Which makes the "game" much worse, as [[spoiler: the victors have to fight against each other. Then again, many of them are more than ready to kill the others.]]
** In ''Mockingjay'' there's Katniss and [[spoiler:Johanna Mason]].
** It's implied that this also goes for [[spoiler:Johanna, Peeta and perhaps Annie Cresta after the three of them were held captive and tortured in the Capitol.]]
--->[[spoiler: '''Johanna''']]: We're old friends. We're very familiar with each other's screams.
* In ''Literature/{{Flood}}'', the main characters spent four years together as terrorist hostages. After they get out of their captivity, they maintain lifelong connections due to their shared hell.
* ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'':
** On d'Artagnan's first day in Paris, he is challenged to duels by Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Just as the first duel is about to start the group is challenged by four of the Cardinal's guards. D'Artagnan chooses to fight with the Musketeers, and the quarrels are forgotten when he is instrumental to their victory.
** D'Artagnan and Rochefort spend the first book as nemeses. In an epilogue, it's explained that they fight several duels before ultimately becoming close friends.
* In Rick Riordan's ''[[Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus The Lost Hero]]'', Leo assures Piper that even if Jason regains his memory, their adventures together will assure that they are still friends.
** All of the Seven grow into this over the course of the series, by the end of ''The House of Hades'' even those of them who were the most unwilling in the beginning are TrueCompanions.
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/{{Cryoburn}}'', Miles explains their connection to Raven as this, through his and Roic's being kidnapped and escaping together -- covering up their older connection.
* ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'': In "Literature/TheScarletCitadel" Conan muses at the end that while Pelias unquestionably saved his life, his freedom, and his kingdom (both keeping him on the throne and preventing it from falling under an oppressor), he ''nevertheless'' never wants to lay eyes on him again. (Then, Pelias is unquestionably a {{Necromancer}}.)
** In "The Shadow Kingdom", Literature/{{Kull}} feels this toward Brule. (No doubt aided by Brule's being the only one he can know is a real man.)
* In Dennis [=McKiernan's=] novel ''[[Literature/{{Mithgar}} Dragondoom]]'' the two main characters, a female human and a male dwarf, become this. Humans and dwarves hate each other at this point in time and they immediately take a dislike to each other. However, it turns out they are both after the same thing and quickly have to team up to survive attacks from the baddies trying to stop them. Eventually [[spoiler: they develop romantic feelings for each other, but never get a chance to say so. Biggest TearJerker ending.]]
* In Creator/LewisCarroll's nonsense epic ''Literature/TheHuntingOfTheSnark'', the Beaver (a valuable crew member, although [[InformedAbility no one is quite certain why]]) and the Butcher (who specializes in killing beavers) [[HeterosexualLifePartners bond]] over an [[SeriousBusiness arithmetic lesson]] and their mutual fear of the Jubjub bird.
* A variant occurs in ''Literature/{{Fablehaven}}''--the two protagonists, Kendra and Seth, are actually a pair of [[SiblingRivalry bickering siblings]] who never truly seem to get along. However, the trials they endure in Fablehaven bring them closer together, and help them to truly understand one another and become a true BrotherSisterTeam. (It helps that CharacterDevelopment occurs on both sides.)
* ''Literature/TheBeyonders'' has Jason and Rachel. Although they do connect due to both being [[FishOutOfWater "Beyonders"]] from Earth, Jason is stubbon and Rachel is argumentative, which ends up [[SourSupporter pretty much like you'd expect.]] However, they do begin to connect, and Jason gains a great deal of respect for Rachel once she proves just how badly she wants to avert being a NeutralFemale.
* In Creator/JasperFforde's ''Literature/TheEyreAffair'', Joffy muses how at first the war was pleasant, and the camaderie found nowhere else was a big part of it.
* ''[[Literature/ForgottenRealms Elfsong]]'' by Elaine Cunningham had [[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob Danilo Thann]] and Elaith "[[MagnificentBastard The Serpent]]" Craulnober fighting together. While they did sort of [[GiveMeASword lend each other weapons]], the first time Danilo gave no-nonsense Elaith a sword loudly singing "[[BawdySong Elminster's Jest]]" and the second time he grabbed the elf's inactive Moonblade (the reason of most pain in his life). Elaith had a foul temper in better situations, and both times was close to killing him after the action. So they eventually became VitriolicBestBuds.
* In Creator/JohnHemry's ''[[Literature/TheLostFleet Fearless]]'', after Geary's ship and two others stay to [[spoiler:control a hyperspace jump about to be destroyed]], there are [[MaliciousSlander rumors]] that Geary had [[spoiler:destroyed it]], and the captain of the ''Diamond'', one of the other ships, explodes with rage on hearing -- he admits to not having thought well of Geary before, but that's a lie, and he would be proud to fight by Geary.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
** Bail Organa and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Wild Space. They eventually become close friends after [[spoiler:driving each other crazy for weeks while cooped up on a starship, surviving the crash of said spaceship at the hands of the Sith, trekking through hostile wilderness, coping with Obi-Wan's reliving of his most horrific memories and keeping each other going despite considerable injuries.]] The two men end up trusting each other implicitly, despite their considerable differences.
** [[Literature/XWingSeries Gavin Darklighter and Asyr Sei'lar]]. The first meeting between the two nearly results in Gavin getting executed for [[FantasticRacism (perceived) bigotry]] despite the arguments of former attorney Nawara Ven, but a raid by Imperial stormtroopers intervenes. Gavin instinctively pulls Asyr out of the way just as the raid begins, allowing Asyr to realize she was wrong about Gavin being a bigot. They stick together until they escape the raid, and become friends afterward, then lovers. It gets so strong they consider marriage and adopting children (since their two species are incapable of naturally reproducing) before Borsk Fey'lya, a bigot from Asyr's people, arranged to separate them.
* In the Creator/DaleBrown novel ''Shadows of Steel'', this happens between Tony Jamieson and Patrick [=McLanahan=]. The former is most displeased by having to fly with who he sees as a disgraced now-civilian, while the latter is aloof and mission-focused. They eventually bond during their mission.
* In ''[[Literature/TheWarGods War Maid's Choice]]'' the Sothoii who fought beside the hradani infantry against three devils and a horde of ghouls don't take kindly to insults against their former enemies, and those who fought [[spoiler: beside Leanna and the other war-maids in an apparently hopeless defense of the king, including the king]] no longer find disparaging remarks about ''them'' all that funny either.
* In Creator/MichaelFlynn's ''[[Literature/SpiralArm The January Dancer]]'', at one point Hugh remembers this forming during the civil war.
* In the ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' series, Artemis and Holly's relationship goes from kidnapper and victim (1st book) to reluctant allies (2nd and 3rd books) to friendship (4th book onwards).
* In Creator/RobinMcKinley's ''Literature/{{Sunshine}}'', Sunshine and Constantine.
* In Creator/SarahAHoyt's ''Literature/DrawOneInTheDark'', after Tom's rescue, he, Rafiel, and Keith have a strange camaraderie that he reflects on.
* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'', Thorvald's manner toward Shann during the course of the novel is often brusque, despite a couple of {{After Action Patchup}}s, but he is obviously friendly at the end when he explains Shann's FieldPromotion.
** In ''Literature/ForerunnerForay'', when Ziantha escaped the mental TimeTravel but Turan did not, she mourns and reflects on how for the first time, she had known an equal, and thought it was like the bond between crewmen or Patrol who had faced a common danger.
* In Creator/BernardCornwell's ''Literature/{{Sharpe}}'s Triumph'', Sharpe reflects on how he and [=McCandless=] are as close to friendship as is possible between a sergeant and a colonel -- not because of a battle, but because they had been prisoners together.
* ''Literature/{{Brotherband}}'' has the ''Heron'' brotherband, a RagtagBunchOfMisfits who band together in the goal of succeeding at brotherband training.
* Rose Hathaway and Mia Rinaldi from ''Literature/VampireAcademy'', were enemies until their captivity in Spokane in ''Frostbite''. After saving each other's lives they became good friends.
* ''Literature/TheStrangerBesideMe'': Ann speculates that she and Ted became friends because they worked together at the crisis hotline so often.
* Averted in ''Steel Dragons of a Luminous Sky'' by Brian Trent. The protagonist gets shot InTheBack by a compatriot during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. When he mentions this trope she just sneers, "We've known each other a goddam week. You set a low bar for friendship."
* ''Literature/TheSilerianTrilogy'': Tansen and Josarian, after fighting the Valdani together. Also blood brothers.
* In ''Literature/{{Transitions}}'' the dwarves Arthogate and Thibbledorf Pwent bond over killing undead minions. Pwent was initially hostile to Arthogate, not knowing what to make of him, but fighting their way through hordes of undead on the way to Spirit Soaring does wonders for a blooming friendship between the two.
* The kids in ''Literature/{{Mindwarp}}'' very much count, after being hunted by aliens. In fact, the end of the series has them all promising to remain friends, whether or not they have powers and whatever else may have changed.
* ''Literature/ThePendragonAdventure'':
** Bobby bonds with his fellow Travelers as they go through dangerous adventures together.
** Courtney and Mark start off only vaguely acquainted with each other and become good friends through all the Earth-side dangers they go through together.
* Literature/WarriorCats: In ''The New Prophecy'', most of the characters didn't know each other very well and in some cases were openly hostile to each other before their journey - Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw didn't get along, and Crowpaw was aggressive to everyone (but particularly Brambleclaw due to a border conflict) - but in the end they become true friends due to everything they'd faced together.
* ''Literature/TheMachineriesOfEmpire'': Jedao and Cheris slowly come to like each other, even if he's still scheming and she's still unsure whether she should trust him.
* ''Literature/{{Wander}}'' has Wander and Dagger. When they first meet, Wander saves him from the [[OurZombiesAreDifferent smilers]] against her better instincts, and they grow closer and closer over the course of the book until she's willing to risk her life to save him, and vice versa. [[spoiler:By the end of the book they've grown into full-fledged PlatonicLifePartners territory, Wander, who's [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname only known by her nickname]] and insists that Dagger is, too, willingly trades names with him, showing that she trusts him absolutely.]]

* ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' has Captain John Rumford and Imperial Japanese officer Captain Yakahashi Tomo becoming friends as they serve on a joint expedition against a Chinese client state.
* In ''Literature/ScavengerAlliance'', Wall has a definite StayInTheKitchen mentality and has opposed female officers for years, but Blaze wins his support in becoming deputy leader by calling general justice against Cage (which Wall, as Cage's division leader, couldn't).
* In ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'', The "Bayview Four" become this, as a result of being murder suspects, as well as their network of friends and siblings. Their lack of faith in the police investigation convinces them to solve Simon's murder themselves, [[spoiler: especially after Nate is wrongly arrested]].
* ''Literature/{{Deeplight}}'': Selphin thinks Hark is an idiot for messing around with weird artifacts; Hark thinks Selphin is crazy. By the end of the book, they've been shot at by Leaguers, taken a trip to [[EldritchOceanAbyss the Undersea]] [[spoiler:to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu slay]] a god]], and are thick as thieves.

* Bail Organa and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Franchise/StarWars: The Clone Wars: Wild Space. They eventually become close friends after [[spoiler:driving each other crazy for weeks while cooped up on a starship, surviving the crash of said spaceship at the hands of the Sith, trekking through hostile wilderness, coping with Obi-Wan's reliving of his most horrific memories and keeping each other going despite considerable injuries.]] The two men end up trusting each other implicitly, despite their considerable differences.
** [[Literature/XWingSeries Gavin Darklighter and Asyr Sei'lar]]. The first meeting between the two nearly results in Gavin getting executed for [[FantasticRacism (perceived) bigotry]] despite the arguments of former attorney Nawara Ven, but a raid by Imperial stormtroopers intervenes. Gavin instinctively pulls Asyr out of the way just as the raid begins, allowing Asyr to realize she was wrong about Gavin being a bigot. They stick together until they escape the raid, and maintain a strong relationship afterward.

* ''Literature/TheSilerianTrilogy'': Tansen and Josarian. Also blood brothers.

* Common in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' literature:

** In Lee Lightner's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/SpaceWolf novel ''Sons of Fenris'', Jeremiah and Ragnar have won each other's respect by the end.

** In C. S. Goto's Literature/BloodRavens trilogy, Rhamah has his doubts about Ahriman, but wavers because they had, after all, fought side by side against the Harlequins.

* Similarly, ''Literature/TheBeyonders'' by the same author has Jason and Rachel. Although they do connect due to both being [[FishOutOfWater "Beyonders"]] from Earth, Jason is stubbon and Rachel is argumentative, which ends up [[SourSupporter pretty much like you'd expect.]] However, they do begin to connect, and Jason gains a great deal of respect for Rachel once she proves just how badly she wants to avert being a NeutralFemale.

* In ''Literature/OneOfUsIsLying'', The "Bayview Four" become this, as a result of being murder suspects, as well as their network of friends and siblings. Their lack of faith in the police investigation convinces them to solve Simon's murder themselves, [[spoiler: especially after Nate is wrongly arrested]].

* In ''Literature/ScavengerAlliance'', Wall has a definite StayInTheKitchen mentality and has opposed female officers for years, but Blaze wins his support in becoming deputy leader by calling general justice against Cage (which Wall, as Cage's division leader, couldn't).

* ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' has Captain John Rumford and Imperial Japanese officer Captain Yakahashi Tomo becoming friends as they serve on a joint expedition against a Chinese client state.

** Khat and Sagai got together after Khat rescued Sagai from cannibalistic DesertBandits and Sagai then saved Khat from dying of his injuries in the Waste. Khat was [[TheAloner violently antisocial]] at the time, but still grew into FoundFamily with Sagai's wife and children.

* This is how William Laurence makes both of his closest friends in ''Literature/{{Temeraire}}''.

* ''Literature/{{Temeraire}}'': John Granby is initially extremely hostile to Laurence out of friendship to [[JerkAss another officer]] who lost his chance at promotion because Temeraire wanted Laurence for a captain instead. But after being faced with Laurence's heroism and concern for his dragon in Temeraire's first combat action, Granby realizes he was being a JerkAss, apologises to Laurence, and becomes his friend.

* Bail Organa and Obi-Wan Kenobi in StarWars: The Clone Wars: Wild Space. They eventually become close friends after [[spoiler:driving each other crazy for weeks while cooped up on a starship, surviving the crash of said spaceship at the hands of the Sith, trekking through hostile wilderness, coping with Obi-Wan's reliving of his most horrific memories and keeping each other going despite considerable injuries.]] The two men end up trusting each other implicitly, despite their considerable differences.

** In ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', Legolas and Gimli get along rather better after spending time together in Lothlórien after the Battle of Moria.

* In ''[[Literature/LordOfTheRings The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Legolas and Gimli get along rather better after spending time together in Lothlórien after the Battle of Moria.